Posted: 4/9/2009 4:49:26 PM EDT
|
I'll be looking for an inexpensive (under $800 )family sized runabout ,preferably an openbow,16' or bigger here in a couple of weeks. Scanning Craigslist, it seems like all the good deals are jumped on almost instantly,usually before I even get off work. Any suggestions? Or am I chasing a pipe dream? |
|
You are chasing a dream.. Old boats will almost ALWAYS be a money pit. I work at a marina, and from first hand experience I can tell you. Any boat you are interested in is worth a trip to the lake for a test ride. It doesn't matter if it runs in the driveway. If the seller won't go for a test ride then walk away. Stay far away from any OMC I/O, especially an old "stringer drive". IM me if you need any questions answered.
ETA–– Alot of those so-called good deals find thier way to the marina with major issues. |
An old boat can be very expensive ,as said buy a good one for more and it will be cheaper in the long run . if you have never owned a boat ,bare in mind that you spend 90% of the time fixing and maintaneing it and only 10% of the time enjoying it on the lake . most boats spend most of thier life on a trailer .a boat is a fiberglass or wood hole in the water you throw money into . hell is full of old boats and ex wife's ,and neither leaves you with any money .
|
| right now there is a glut of repoed boats you can buy cheap ,just make sure you check them out from stem to stern B4 you part wit your money . there is a place in town called Boat Angle ,they have a lot of boats realy cheap . but remember even the best boats are a cash drain . |
| right now there is a glut of repoed boats you can buy cheap ,just make sure you check them out from stem to stern B4 you part wit your money . there is a place in town called Boat Angle ,they have a lot of boats realy cheap . but remember even the best boats are a cash drain . |
|
Quoted:
You are chasing a dream.. Old boats will almost ALWAYS be a money pit. I work at a marina, and from first hand experience I can tell you. Any boat you are interested in is worth a trip to the lake for a test ride. It doesn't matter if it runs in the driveway. If the seller won't go for a test ride then walk away. Stay far away from any OMC I/O, especially an old "stringer drive". IM me if you need any questions answered. ETA–– Alot of those so-called good deals find thier way to the marina with major issues. Brother if you've got a line on any deals call this guy now! http://tucson.craigslist.org/boa/1116532951.html 1919 anyone?? |
|
Yeah, I hear what you are saying guys. I used to own an old Arrowglass 15foot bass&ski trihull with a '76 70hp Chrysler outboard. If there was ever a redheaded stepchild of the boat engine world it was that fucker. Props were almost impossible to find, the impeller design sucked balls and I would routinely get passed at full throttle by sailboats!
Several of my friends own or have owned jetboats and I was impressed at how inexpensive the rebuild kits for a pump was. The problem is that I'm not too fond of the way most of them are set up, closed bow,shallow draft, and giant ,steaming hot headers located inches from the passenger seat. Not the type of enviroment for a very active 4 year old to be bouncing around in. 
KB, I kinda figured that about OMC, that whole rubber boot seal in the hull and the cheesy electric trim control looked like nothing but headaches. I'll keep looking. I'd love to be able to take the kids out fishing on the water this year. George |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
You are chasing a dream.. Old boats will almost ALWAYS be a money pit. I work at a marina, and from first hand experience I can tell you. Any boat you are interested in is worth a trip to the lake for a test ride. It doesn't matter if it runs in the driveway. If the seller won't go for a test ride then walk away. Stay far away from any OMC I/O, especially an old "stringer drive". IM me if you need any questions answered. ETA–– Alot of those so-called good deals find thier way to the marina with major issues. Brother if you've got a line on any deals call this guy now! http://tucson.craigslist.org/boa/1116532951.html 1919 anyone?? Ad flagged for removal!! what did he have? a FA 1919? |
|
you know....This gives me an idea....my neighbor wanted to do a little "Play boat" for his youngest daughters playroom.....maybe I could find some old and cheap and use the front end of it for this purpose....................
the more I think about this, the front of a V haul Skiff would be perfect.....wonder How cheap I could find something like that......heck, it does not even need to float................ |
|
Quoted:
Yeah, I hear what you are saying guys. I used to own an old Arrowglass 15foot bass&ski trihull with a '76 70hp Chrysler outboard. If there was ever a redheaded stepchild of the boat engine world it was that fucker. Props were almost impossible to find, the impeller design sucked balls and I would routinely get passed at full throttle by sailboats! Several of my friends own or have owned jetboats and I was impressed at how inexpensive the rebuild kits for a pump was. The problem is that I'm not too fond of the way most of them are set up, closed bow,shallow draft, and giant ,steaming hot headers located inches from the passenger seat. Not the type of enviroment for a very active 4 year old to be bouncing areound in.
KB, I kinda figured that about OMC, that whole rubber boot seal in the hull and the cheesy electric trim control looked like nothing but headaches. I'll keep looking. I'd love to be able to take the kids out fishing on the water this year. George I think what you are looking for is a 'daycrusier'. I had one a while back best fuckin boat in the world IMO. Yeah a jet drive isn't the most efficient way to move a boat but I can rebuild my jet (then) for what a good SS prop went for on a outdrive. Most daycrusiers like the ole Beismyer (sp?) I had will have a automotive ford or chevy big block (easy to work on 454 or 460). They'll also have a deep V and 30" or about sides (interior) and can be had with a open bow. There is a nice Hallett on craigslist right now but it's a project boat. Needs a engine and interior but for a custom Hallett with perfect hull it's only $2K a good deal. Another good side to most daycrusiers is that the engine is enclosed and the exaust runs "under water" outlets so there are no hot headers in the air and not quite as much noise. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Yeah, I hear what you are saying guys. I used to own an old Arrowglass 15foot bass&ski trihull with a '76 70hp Chrysler outboard. If there was ever a redheaded stepchild of the boat engine world it was that fucker. Props were almost impossible to find, the impeller design sucked balls and I would routinely get passed at full throttle by sailboats! Several of my friends own or have owned jetboats and I was impressed at how inexpensive the rebuild kits for a pump was. The problem is that I'm not too fond of the way most of them are set up, closed bow,shallow draft, and giant ,steaming hot headers located inches from the passenger seat. Not the type of enviroment for a very active 4 year old to be bouncing areound in.
KB, I kinda figured that about OMC, that whole rubber boot seal in the hull and the cheesy electric trim control looked like nothing but headaches. I'll keep looking. I'd love to be able to take the kids out fishing on the water this year. George I think what you are looking for is a 'daycrusier'. I had one a while back best fuckin boat in the world IMO. Yeah a jet drive isn't the most efficient way to move a boat but I can rebuild my jet (then) for what a good SS prop went for on a outdrive. Most daycrusiers like the ole Beismyer (sp?) I had will have a automotive ford or chevy big block (easy to work on 454 or 460). They'll also have a deep V and 30" or about sides (interior) and can be had with a open bow. There is a nice Hallett on craigslist right now but it's a project boat. Needs a engine and interior but for a custom Hallett with perfect hull it's only $2K a good deal. Another good side to most daycrusiers is that the engine is enclosed and the exaust runs "under water" outlets so there are no hot headers in the air and not quite as much noise. Cobalt made a tri-hull jet drive boat back in the seventies powered by small block Chevys', there was one on CL a few days ago but he was out of my price range. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
You are chasing a dream.. Old boats will almost ALWAYS be a money pit. I work at a marina, and from first hand experience I can tell you. Any boat you are interested in is worth a trip to the lake for a test ride. It doesn't matter if it runs in the driveway. If the seller won't go for a test ride then walk away. Stay far away from any OMC I/O, especially an old "stringer drive". IM me if you need any questions answered. ETA–– Alot of those so-called good deals find thier way to the marina with major issues. Brother if you've got a line on any deals call this guy now! http://tucson.craigslist.org/boa/1116532951.html 1919 anyone?? Ad flagged for removal!! what did he have? a FA 1919? No, semi-auto check out my other thread  http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=8&f=13&t=355989
|
|
there is no such thing as a cheap boat...
guys on here are pretty much saying the truth. Unless you are really into boating, and plan to use a boat alot, just rent them. Renting boats will seem really expensive until you own one. Anytime I go to the coast, I try to get buddies to rent a boat and they never go for it. I try to tell them, $400 for the day and we never see the damn thing again is the best deal on water. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Yeah, I hear what you are saying guys. I used to own an old Arrowglass 15foot bass&ski trihull with a '76 70hp Chrysler outboard. If there was ever a redheaded stepchild of the boat engine world it was that fucker. Props were almost impossible to find, the impeller design sucked balls and I would routinely get passed at full throttle by sailboats! Several of my friends own or have owned jetboats and I was impressed at how inexpensive the rebuild kits for a pump was. The problem is that I'm not too fond of the way most of them are set up, closed bow,shallow draft, and giant ,steaming hot headers located inches from the passenger seat. Not the type of enviroment for a very active 4 year old to be bouncing areound in.
KB, I kinda figured that about OMC, that whole rubber boot seal in the hull and the cheesy electric trim control looked like nothing but headaches. I'll keep looking. I'd love to be able to take the kids out fishing on the water this year. George I think what you are looking for is a 'daycrusier'. I had one a while back best fuckin boat in the world IMO. Yeah a jet drive isn't the most efficient way to move a boat but I can rebuild my jet (then) for what a good SS prop went for on a outdrive. Most daycrusiers like the ole Beismyer (sp?) I had will have a automotive ford or chevy big block (easy to work on 454 or 460). They'll also have a deep V and 30" or about sides (interior) and can be had with a open bow. There is a nice Hallett on craigslist right now but it's a project boat. Needs a engine and interior but for a custom Hallett with perfect hull it's only $2K a good deal. Another good side to most daycrusiers is that the engine is enclosed and the exaust runs "under water" outlets so there are no hot headers in the air and not quite as much noise. Cobalt made a tri-hull jet drive boat back in the seventies powered by small block Chevys', there was one on CL a few days ago but he was out of my price range. One last one if you do get a jet drive try to get a Berkley. They've been around for ever and parts are all over the place. There are a few jet boat forums and guys always have berkley parts for sale or barter laying around |
| Cobalt boats are built to last and are a great boat if you can find one priced right . never been a fan of jet drives,makes backing up a pain in the ass. the Volvo Penta with the Duo Prop is pricey and is crazy expensve to replace props . overall the best way to go is a Merc single prop stern drive of an out board motor. jets are great for jet ski's but boats should have a real prop. In a perfect world you would have a rich friend that owned a boat . |
|
Quoted:
In a perfect world you would have a rich friend that owned a boat . That he would let you borrow and fuel up for you don't forget.....  All in all most everyone in this thread is right. My dealings have just led me to believe for a everyday broke ass like me a jet is the easiest and cheapest to maintain and repair. As far as a 'family' jet they are far and few between but are out there. Keep looking and good luck.
|
| don't even mess with a boat thats worth less than $2500 and then go through it with a fine tooth comb and make sure the title and registration is in order you will get checked on the lake and if SO is hassling you or your dinking with it on the docks or bailing it out it defeats the purpose of going out to enjoy yourself. that said the worst day on hte lake is better than the best day at work. |